Accident: Piper J3C
Oct 6, 2018 · Fancy Gap, VA
NTSB numberERA19FA003Event id20181007X50731
- 1
- Fatalities
- 0
- Serious injuries
- 0
- Minor injuries
- 0
- Uninjured
Probable cause
The non-instrument-rated pilot's improper decision to undertake a flight into forecast instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and his subsequent decision to continue the flight after encountering IMC, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's depression and use of impairing/sedating medications, which resulted in poor decision-making.
Source: National Transportation Safety Board. Record last changed Oct 28, 2026, 10:54 UTC.
Aircraft involved
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C
- Registration
- N38811
- Year built
- 1941
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rules
- Part 91: general aviation
- Defining event
- Enroute Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)
Source: National Transportation Safety Board aviation accident database. Counts only; Voydar holds no names.
This page restates the NTSB's public record. Injury figures are counts; Voydar does not hold or publish the names of anyone involved.